Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam cracking process and apparatus which permits the conversion of fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons. The claimed invention provides for the conversion of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction, as well as a heavier hydrocarbon feedstock. The inventive process takes place at a high temperature and in the presence of a dilute fluidized phase of heat-transfer particles. The process comprises contacting the light-hydrocarbon feedstock and then the heavier feedstock, in a sequential manner with catalytic or noncatalytic heat-transfer particles in a continuous flow reactor. The process further provides for separating and stripping, to separate at least 90 percent of the particles which are regenerated before recycling.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous replacement of a first catalyst by a second catalyst which first catalyst is circulating as a moving bed of solid particles in a hydrocarbon treating unit, which unit comprises at least one processing reactor. The first catalyst is withdrawn downstream of the reactor, or of each reactor, in the direction of catalyst circulation. The second catalyst is simultaneously injected upstream of the reactor or of each reactor. The bulk density of the material withdrawn downstream of the reactor, or of each reactor, is measured continuously. The withdrawal of the first catalyst and the injection of the second catalyst into the reactor concerned are interrupted when the bulk density so measured is equal to that of the second catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst particles in a fluidized phase in an essentially upflow or downflow tubular reaction zone. The process includes at least one stage of steam cracking of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction and a stage of catalytic cracking of at least one heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The steam cracking is carried out by contacting the light hydrocarbons and a quantity of steam equal to at least 20 percent by weight in a fluidized bed of the catalyst particles, the resulting temperature ranging from 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. The catalytic cracking of the heavy hydrocarbons is carried out by injection of the effluents from the upstream section of the reaction zone into the catalyst suspension in such a way that the temperature of the mixture ranges from 500.degree. to 650.degree. C. and is then reduced to a temperature ranging 475.degree. to 550.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a surface of an external wall of a building includes applying a cleaning fluid containing a strippable film forming agent to the surface of an external wall of a building, drying the applied cleaning fluid to form a strippable film, and stripping the strippable film from the surface of the external wall. Thus, the cleaning fluid which contains soil is removed with the strippable film, so that the scattering of the cleaning fluid around the building can be prevented.

Abstract: A casing seal and casing spool for providing a high pressure seal of the casing pipe of a well during fracturing operations. The casing seal includes a sleeve, a pressure-reactive ring seal, a retainer ring, a split ring and a lock ring. The sleeve has a center bore and a counter bore which is shaped to fit the end of a casing pipe. The retainer ring has an upper recess to accommodate deformation of the ring seal as the ring seal reacts to high pressure. Assembled from four split ring members, the split ring has an upper lip for insertion into an annular groove in a bore and a lower ring recess to accommodate the lock ring. The lock ring is secured in the ring recess of the split ring with threaded fasteners. The casing spool includes an upper flange, a lower flange, a center bore extending between the flanges, an upper counter bore and a lower counter bore.

Abstract: A sump-riser performing as a collection sump, as a riser for the corresponding tank and as a means for secondary containment for the tank's submersible pump, manway, and fittings. The sump-riser comprises a generally cylindrical sump base with an upright annular lip extending upwardly from an upper support surface; an extension riser including a lower annular riser lip which fits over and round the lip of the sump base; a cover for the extension riser; and an access or observation lid. The riser extension is detachable or removable from the sump base and may be inverted and inserted into the sump base for compact shipping. Score lines may be provided on the riser extension to serve as cutting guides for proper sizing and the sump base may be multi-sided to provide flat walls for accurate hole drilling for pipe and conduit entry.

Abstract: A system of incrementally moving a foil, or other flexible and elastic elongated web, through a work station, by contacting and registering the foil on both sides of the work station. An example of such a work station is a hot stamping press that transfers optical images from the foil to other substrates. A drive mechanism, with an associated foil registration device, is provided at each of the entrance to the work station and the exit from it. Each registration device optically detects registration marks provided on the foil along its length, and is used to stop its associated drive mechanism after a predetermined number of marks have passed. This dual drive system maintains registration of the foil or other web throughout an extended work station. It is particularly advantageous for use with those hot stamping presses that either have a large number of die or whose multiple die are widely separated, since the multiple images carried along the foil are then all properly registered with the die.

Abstract: An apparatus for studying the migration of a gas in a cement slag comprises a cell 21 filled at least partially with a slag 22 to be used during the cementation of a well pipe. A first strainer 23 made of a sintered material which simulates a formation is disposed below a second strainer 24 made of a sintered material and connected to a gas-detection apparatus, the levels at which the two strainers are positioned being such that they are embedded in the slag being studied. A pressurized gas source 27 is connected to the first strainer, and to a tank 28 partially filled with water 29, the water-gas interface being located at a level lower than that of the first strainer 23. A line 30 is connected between the bottom of the tank and the upper part of the cell, above the upper level of the slag 22, and actual formation conditions can be simulated by suitably adjusting the vertical height H1 between the water-slag interface in the cell and the water-gas interface in the tank.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a model of a surface including the steps of obtaining measurements of geometrical data concerning specific points on the surface, making a grid of the surface, with the grid passing through said points, memorizing, at an address which is specific to each node of the grid, the coordinates of the node, the number of satellites of the node, information for access to the addresses of said satellites and thereafter to information which relates to them, and geometrical data which may be associated with said node; for each node, defining a local roughness index obtained from a weighted sum of the current coordinates of the node and its satellites, defining the sum of an overall roughness index representing the sum of all the local roughness indices, and of an overall index of the infringement of said geometrical data, iteratively adjusting the coordinates of indefinite nodes, by using at each adjustment the sum of a weighted combination of current node neighbor coordinates and of a combination

Abstract: A casing seal and casing spool for providing a high pressure seal of the casing pipe of a well during fracturing operations. The casing seal includes a sleeve, a pressure-reactive ring seal, a retainer ring, a split ring and a lock ring. The sleeve has a center bore and a counter bore which is shaped to fit the end of a casing pipe. The retainer ring has an upper recess to accommodate deformation of the ring seal as the ring seal reacts to high pressure. Assembled from four split ring members, the split ring has an upper lip for insertion into an annular groove in a bore and a lower ring recess to accommodate the lock ring. The lock ring is secured in the ring recess of the split ring with threaded fasteners. The casing spool includes an upper flange, a lower flange, a center bore extending between the flanges, an upper counter bore and a lower counter bore.

Abstract: A fluid storage vessel and providing spacing protrusions for creating interstitial spaces to permit fluid flow about the outer wall of the inner tank to a collection zone where leaked fluid may be detected. Leak detection devices are provided to determine if the inner tank is leaking fluid. A sump base is formed during the rotomolding process to create a secondary containment layer including a sump base of one-piece construction. The sump base includes entry ports for facilitating the insertion of conduit to access the fluid stored in the fluid storage vessel. The method used to create the secondarily contained fluid storage vessel includes a rotomolding process which provides a seamless construction and eliminates mechanical connections of either the outer shell or the sump base and the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for the catalytic cracking in the fluid state of hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises a riser-type column (2); at the top of the riser (2) and concentric therewith, a chamber (1) for separation of the hydrocarbon vapors and the coke-laden catalyst particles; directly above the upper opening of the riser (2) and in the interior of said chamber (1), a ballistic separator (3); at least one unit for regeneration of the spent catalyst, fed by stripped particles received from said chamber. The chamber (1) for separation of the coke-laden catalyst particles and the stripping thereof comprises, at a level intermediate between the bed (6) of particles being stripped and the opening of the riser (2), a means (11) adapted to form a baffle for locally reducing the diameter of said chamber (1) and the free passage at the periphery of the riser (2), thereby reducing recirculating streams of hydrocarbon vapors in separation chamber (1) of the FCC unit thus avoiding overcracking.

Abstract: This bitumen-polymer composition contains:a) at least one bitumen,b) at least one polymer having hydrocarbon chains with mobile hydrogens, said polymer being grafted and crosslinked in situ in said bitumen through a complex of at least one organic silicon compound, said complex being formed from a primary constituent and a secondary constituent, the latter being the organic silicon compound.

Abstract: A sprinkler for automatic fire extinguishing plants according to the dry system is furnished for rooms subjected to and endangered by freezing and frost. Such plants are furnished in particular in case of the presence of a suspended ceiling with downwardly branching pipe pieces. In order to adapt the downwardly branching pipe pieces to the prevailing construction conditions, the branching pipe pieces are furnished by two pipe pieces screwed to each other. The two pipe pieces exhibit a support body at the upper end and a sprinkler at the lower end. The two parts are connected via two rods or pipes, screwed to each other, to form the special sprinkler.

Abstract: This bitumen-polymer emulsion contains:a) at least one bitumen,b) at least one polymer having hydrocarbon chains with mobile hydrogens, said polymer being grafted and crosslinked in situ in said bitumen through a complex of at least one organic silicon compound, said complex being formed from a primary constituent and a secondary constituent, the latter being an organic silicon compound,c) water, andd) at least one emulsifier.

Abstract: System for vapor recovery without formation of fluid blockages includes a vapor source, a fluid collection tank for collecting vapor, and a vapor recovery pipe extending between and fluidly collecting the vapor source and the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe slopes vertically downwardly from the vapor source to the fluid collection tank so that vapor flows into the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe has a main tube and an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to the main tube. The vapor recovery pipe is engineered and is installed in such a manner that the vapor recovery pipe resists bending in a substantially vertical plane and allows bending in a substantially horizontal plane. Accordingly, the vapor recovery pipe according to the invention can be installed without surveying equipment, overcomes surface irregularities, and by resisting bending in a vertical direction ensures that no fluid blockages are formed along the length thereof.

Abstract: A process for the fixed-bed sweetening of sour petroleum distillates with fraction temperatures of from about 125.degree. to about 350.degree. C. and having an acid number of 0.03 mg of KOH/g or higher. The reduction of the acidity and the oxidation of the mercaptans necessary for the sweetening of the distillates are carried out together in a single stage by passing the distillate, in the presence of an oxidizing agent but in the absence of a basic solution, and particularly of an alkali-metal hydroxide solution, over an oxidation catalyst whose specific surface ranges from 1 to 10 m.sup.2 /gram, and preferably from 2 to 6 m.sup.2 /gram, and whose micropore volume ranges from 0.01 to 0.10 cm.sup.3 /gram, and preferably from 0.02 to 0.05 cm.sup.3 /gram.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of particles of sulfated lime (containing up to 80% CaSO.sub.4) as a polymer filler which can be derived from dry desulfurization of flue gas. Such sulfated lime can advantageously be incorporated into an elastomer such as ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: A method and a device is provided for the discharge of a foam, in particular of a high-expansion and/or medium-expansion foam useful in connection with fire-extinguishing and the like. The foam is furnished with an antifoaming agent water mixture, is suctioned in by a fan blower and is disintegrated. The resultant solution is collected via a separator in a subsequently disposed collection container, and is further transported with a pump.

Abstract: A method of wagering at a racetrack where the racing entities are typically horses or dogs in whose practice cards are made available to persons attending the races for entering, prior to the beginning of the schedule of races, or, for latecomers, the beginning of a predetermined race herein called the nth race, the identification of the racing entities which each person selects to be "in the money." Cards are available for WIN alone, and/or for WIN and PLACE and/or for WIN, PLACE and SHOW. The payout is on a correct selection of all entities, on all entities less one, on all entities less two, etc., up to for all entities less a predetermined number. The payout is a predetermined prize assigned prior to the start of the races and is commensurate with the probability of the correct selection as the case may be. At racetracks where the entities in each race are numbered sequentially, there are also two types of payoffs.